Melissa Walton Hendricks

Food sovereignty addresses this complex transition by allowing communities to define and produce their own food systems. If a modification to a traditional food source is needed, the community can choose (and produce) a culturally appropriate food themselves.

When these decisions are dictated to a people the dictated item may be unacceptable for a variety of reasons (not a culturally sound practice, not something they can produce for themselves in their climate, etc.). Giving the power back to indigenous communities allows them to make these highly personal and important decisions for themselves.

The more I explore Oregon, the more I feel at home here.

Balance is crucial to sustainability because without it you either completely mow over the natural world in relentless pursuit of capitalism, or you ignore the very real economic impacts (especially on vulnerable populations) of implementing restrictions to protect the natural world. We must support one another economically in order to promote true sustainable changes. If you cannot meet your basic needs of clean water, nourishing food, warm shelter, education for your children, medical care, etc. then you cannot look beyond those immediate needs to improve and protect the natural world. A local example: Housed residents complaining about the degradation of natural areas by houseless residents occupying those spaces. It's a true issue. But these are folks without access to shelter, likely intermittant access to food and medical care - how can we ask or expect them to be outraged about damage to a prairie if we're not outraged about their economic insecurity?